Alessa

Hi everyone!

Some of you know that Ive been going trough a lot of stuff these days. Well, after spending a good 24hrs at the hospital (see thread: http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/ge...uple-days.html). I came back home to find balthier yawning more than usual and gasping a bit...

Checked the water to see the nitrate level, it was 0.
at that point I freaked out and tested for nitrite and ammonia, nitrite was 0 and ammonia was 0.50

Why?? I havent changed any filter media, or done anything that might have compromised the cycle! I dechlorinated the water every single time I changed It and it has been like a month since I cycled the tank fishless and got Balthier.

the only thing that made me think is the "Attison's betta Spa" since it says to lock ammonia. I never use more than a couple of drops, just to get a hint of it in the water without turning it tea color.... any ideas?

I will be on FL for a bit, then go to bed since I have to return to the Hospital, meanwhile...

(sigh) daily 50% water changes....

snakehead95

not enough stock for the tank maybe??

Lucy

No, that wouldn't be it. At one point this was a cycled tank with enough bacteria to process the ammonia created by Blathier.


Wow Alessa, that darn tank! You have a lot going on, are you sure you tested correctly? Odd that you'd go into a mini cycle.
I don't have experience with Attison's betta spa, but if it locks the ammonia, the bacteria may have starved.

Alessa

Yes Lucy, I tested the water corectly... Oh gosh!
Thats what I thought, but I saw it listed in the "betta meds list" and read several in the forum used it, so I thought that it was something like prime

I Havent got a clue!

I wanted to ask Martinismommy if she has had any kind of problem with the marineland hex tanks. They seem so tightly closed to me! maybe lack of oxygen contributed to bacteria dying? I had also noticed balthier yawning a lot recently... I think I need an air pump.

Lucy

I had Prissy in the hex at one point, but the filter was broken and my husband cut out the back to accomodate an HOB so it wasn't closed like it usually is.
An airstone won't hurt, for sure, Blathier might like it.
I don't recall MM having mini cycle problems with the hex, but send her a pm and check.
I can't think of anyone off hand who uses the betta spa that you could ask if they've had problems with it.

Do you have any live plants with dead leaves that may have caused the changes?

I hope your mom's doing well tonight.


Edit: I did read something about the bio wheel and mini cycles, I wish I could remember where I read it. Did your water get low and maybe it stopped turning?

COBettaCouple

If he's yawning a lot, it probably is an indication of low oxygen levels and you'd definitely want an air pump in the tank. I'd put it on the back panel in a hex tank. The wheels on those do sometimes stop so if that happened, you could be just having a mini-cycle.

Alessa

Ok, I got an air pump... Balthier HATES the bubbles.

I hope he is just getting used to them...

Darlene

We have a 5 gallon hex that we bought at walmart and have not had problems with it yet. Good luck I hope things get better for you.

Alessa

thanks Darlene

Fishies-for-me

I have 2 -5 gallon hex with a male betta in each...I have had no trouble with my parameters in those tanks since I got them in May. ( I also got mine at Walmart ...they are 29.99 there) ...Good luck.